It’s strange how quiet the house feels these days, even when Ciara’s home. It’s like the house is holding its breath, waiting for something, or rather someone.
There is a knock at the front door, and I buzz Cormac in from the app on my phone.
A minute later, he walks into the study, looking as if he’s stepping into enemy territory.
I try not to react to the solemn expression on his face, hating how distant he’s become. With only three years between us, we were extremely close growing up…until we weren’t.
Part of me selfishly wants Cormac to remain in New York, not just for the sake of our business, but because he’s my brother. Our father’s death has served as a reminder that just being Sullivans doesn’t make us immortal, and I want tospend as much time as possible with my family because we never know how long we have left.
"I didn’t think you’d ever invite me for a drink again after what went down at Kieran’s the other night." He tries to play it cool, but the invisible weight on his shoulders is clear as day.
I pour us both a glass of whiskey and hand one to him before clinking mine against it.
"I’m not in the business of grudges, at least not with blood."
Cormac takes a sip of his drink and hisses through his teeth. “This shit is good. Dad really had good taste.”
“He sure did.”
We settle into the two leather armchairs that face the fireplace, though the hearth hasn’t seen a flame in weeks, and for a moment, we just sit in silence.
He takes a sip. "Have you heard much from Lorcan?"
I shake my head as I cross an ankle over a knee. "He's been quiet since the funeral. I think he’s still trying to make sense of things."
"Kieran definitely isn’t." Cormac huffs a hollow laugh. "I swear he thinks I’m the one who shot Da, from the way he treats me.”
"You didn’t, and he knows it."
"Does he?" Cormac’s eyes darken as he looks at me. "It feels like he’s just waiting for me to disappear again."
"And why haven’t you?"
His jaw tenses as he looks away. “Because of Da, I guess.” He swirls the whiskey in his glass. “Because I didn’t come back just to leave again, no matter how much some people might want me to.”
I nod slowly, internally battling with myself to reveal everything about the clause in our father’s will. I know it’s inmy best interest for Cormac to stay, but I want him to choose to do so because of the right reasons.
And if he decides not to? Well, I’ll just have to deal with that if it happens.
His eyes are on his glass. “Are you ever going to tell the others why I left?”
I meet my brother’s gaze with curiosity. “Is that something you want me to do?”
Cormac shakes his head before downing the rest of his whiskey in one gulp. “Not yet.”
“Then I won’t,” I promise him.
As much as I think telling Kieran and Brennan the truth is the only way forward if we have any chance of repairing the relationship between all of us, I have to respect Cormac’s decision. So, I’ll keep my opinions to myself and stay silent if that’s what it takes to keep my brother at my side.
After a few more whiskeys, I see Cormac out after he promises to stop by again in a few days and head back into my office.
Ciara still isn’t home, but I’m not too worried. I have a tracker on the Range Rover, which is one of the reasons I gave it to her, as well as her keys. From a quick check of my app, I can see she’s on her way back home, and I exhale.
Part of me genuinely thought she might be stupid enough to make a run for it, and I am seriously not in the mood to chase her down on the highway.
I swipe out of the app and open up my inbox when an incoming call from Callum interrupts me, and I groan.
He’s been surprisingly quiet since the wedding, and I hoped it would stay that way. Having one McCarthy to deal with is enough for me.
